Review: A week with the Plantronics Voyager Pro

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Last Thursday, Plantronics introduced their newest bluetooth headset, the Voyager Pro. It has signal processing software that enhances incoming audio and dual mics with a stainless steel screen, acoustic gore vents, and tiny electronic filters that cancel out wind noise. Buttons for muting and adjusting volume are on the headset, too, so you don't have to fumble with your phone while talking. It's gotten great reviews so far, including a CNet editor's choice award. I, too, spent a week with the Voyager Pro--making phone calls on it while working at my desk, running in the park, and watching my friends surf at the beach in Pacifica.

The best thing about it compared to the dinky bluetooth headset I was using before is that the batteries lasted all week--I never turned it off, and probably got a good 3-4 hours of talk time on it. The design is simple, neither elegant nor tacky. The Voyager Pro swivels at two points--the over-the-ear piece can be rotated to fit the right or left ear, and the mic piece is adjustable too, which is nice. The sound quality is as good as everyone else says it is--crystal clear in most environments, except at the super-windy beach, where I had to duck into the car to finish my call.

I never really did like the over-the-ear earpieces, though, because it takes a couple extra seconds to put on and it also makes things like sunglasses and hair bands fit slightly awkwardly. Personally, I prefer Plantronics' Discovery 925 because it's prettier and I can just stick it on my ear when I need it--but I could see how a dude in a suit who is on serious phone calls all day with clients and bosses would prefer the more professional-looking and engineered-for-better-sound-quality Voyager Pro.

Costs $100.

Product page [Plantronics]